AP U.S. History
Mr. Jensen
Name: ______________________________
Second Quarter
READING GUIDE: APRIL 1865
During the unit, we will be reading and discussing Jay Winik’s April 1865: The Month That Saved America. The
book focuses on the final critical events of the Civil War and makes the argument that the war could have been lost
even in its final moments if not for the courageous actions and decisions of some great Americans. As noted in your
unit overviews, the book is widely available in paperback versions and is a relatively quick read. We will be
discussing the book in class as the focus of a formal seminar on Monday, January 10th. Please make sure that
you are ready for this seminar by completing the seminar preparation assignment described below.
The reading guide below will help you in preparing for the class discussion. As usual, the seminar discussion will
be graded for both homework (written preparation) and class work (verbal participation). The discussion questions
below will be the focus of the discussion. There may be some quiz questions at the end of the quarter on the content
from this book. Your typed seminar preparation should address the discussion questions below – you are only
required to complete five out of the seven questions offered. As always, make sure to answer the question(s) in
your own words and offer specific textual evidence from the book to clearly support your answer. Written responses
should be at least a fully-developed paragraph in length for each response (five paragraphs total).
Questions for Discussion (be prepared to cite specific text for full discussion credit)
1.
Why does Winik refer to April 1865 as “the month that saved America.” In other words, what is his thesis
for the book? Do you find his arguments credible?
2.
How and why was secession a consistent threat to the Union in the early years of the republic? How did
these secession threats highlight philosophical/political differences over the nature of the Constitution and
the United States itself? HINT: This topic is the focus of the second semester exam essay.
3.
What was the military situation in the war by March-April 1865? What was Lincoln’s greatest concern
about the war even as he started his second term in office? Think in terms of the “nightmare scenario”
potentially facing the Union.
4.
What was the “great paradox” of the slavery issue in early 1865? Why were Southerners willing to
consider ending slavery? What does this debate reveal about Southern motives in the war?
5.
How did the events at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 help to bring about the end of the war? How
did both Grant and Lee play a role in this? What impact did it have on later decisions by other
leaders/generals, both North and South?
6.
Why was Lincoln’s assassination such a critical moment in American history? What could have gone
wrong as a result of it? Why didn’t it? Why didn’t the assassins fully succeed in their goals?
7.
According to Winik, how and why did America escape the “cruel edicts of history”? To whom and what
does he give credit for producing a more unified country?
You are encouraged to highlight or otherwise mark your text so that you can easily find supporting evidence for use
in the discussion.